We pitched live in a pub!

Monday, 14 August 2017

First things first - let’s welcome in the new recruits, shall we? I estimate that there’s now around 85 of you wonderful connoisseurs in our little gang, a touch more than the 80 listed on the site (this is down to pub encounters and in-person donations, mostly). That’s quite a lot of people, really, isn’t it? I think you could conceivably hold an event in the Buffalo Bar in Highbury with 85 people in the audience and call it ‘rammed’. Don’t worry that the Buffalo Bar closed down a couple of years ago.

[Supplemental info: one time in about 2007, me and my friend Daryl were so entranced by The Butterflies of Love at the Buffalo Bar that we missed our last train home and had to stay out all night - we celebrated this development by immediately buying a round of apple crumble shots, which consisted of Apple Sourz with digestive biscuits crumbled over the top. Great days.]

The headline is: we’re at 44%, which is way rosier than 43%, or 41%, or 29%, so I’m feeling alright about things generally speaking. As always, you can also help by subtly sneaking BDIRR into conversation if someone you know is coming to the end of their current book (especially if it was a bad or offensive book), or if their book club is actively seeking something melancholy.

Anyway, shall we have a quick rundown of what’s been going on recently?

The Unofficial Unbound Pledge Party

So, to Nunhead: last week, myself and three other wonderful Unbound authors/editors cobbled together a pledging event in The Beer Shop, which just so happens to be about five minutes’ walk from my door. I am nothing if not keen to minimise my personal inconvenience. We all pitched valiantly and managed to fill the place quite convincingly. Thanks Hilary, Stephanie and Niall, thanks Beer Shop, thanks attendees!

Elsewhere, I wrote this long-winded but hopefully interesting piece for The Quietus about exercise, Sun Ra, creativity and states of bliss achievable only by using slow-twitch muscle fibres. Now THAT is an editorial hook. Bobby Denise loves Sun Ra and, in fact, does a vast amount of exercise while listening to his work, so y’know, it counts as book promo. (Great opportunity to remind your friends of the cassette mixtape pledge, FYI.)

I have no actual physical events coming up at the moment, due to a combination of an insane wedding schedule and multiple work excursions throughout the next six weeks, but in terms of non-IRL interaction you lot are going to be sick of me. Podcasts, Q&As, local paper pieces (local to me in Peckham and also local to child-me in Bognor Regis): EXPECT ALL OF THEM.

In the meantime, let’s not bask too long in the balmy climes of 44%. Even though it’s a good amount, it’s also a completely rubbish amount compared to 50%. Likewise 80 people (or 85, whatever the real number is). It’s really pleasing, but don’t you think there’s room in the Buffalo Bar for some more pledgends? Like, 100, for example? This is the trouble with numbers. Let’s do 50% or 100 people, then we’ll talk again.

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Super Patron Patch

2 pledges

Bobby's Mixtape

2 pledges

Bobby Denise will painstakingly prepare an annotated mixtape (on cassette) of his favourite music, from Henry Mancini to Sun-Ra. Includes paperback 1st edition, ebook edition and your name in the list of Super Patrons in the front of the book.

5 Copy Bundle

2 pledges

Your own magician persona

4 pledges

Bobby Denise Is Reigning Rampant is populated by a cast of eccentric stage magicians. The author will create a magician persona just for you (name, back-story, sketches, signature tricks etc) based on a few personal details. Includes paperback 1st edition, ebook edition and your name in the list of Super Patrons in the front of the book.

Personalised edition from Bobby Denise himself

2 pledges

The author will pry a personal dedication from the novel’s main character. (Warning: Bobby tends to ramble. And he has no filter.) Includes paperback 1st edition, ebook edition and your name in the list of Super Patrons in the front of the book.

Amanda Paceman writes a column about you

The Las Vegas Chronicle’s most notorious columnist (and foil to Bobby Denise) will file a column about you/your band/your writing/whatever you think might be worth her attention. Includes paperback 1st edition, ebook edition and your name in the list of Super Patrons in the front of the book.

Book club visit

The author will attend your London-based book club (with snacks and wine!) to talk about the book, answer questions and reveal secrets about the characters (possibly). Also includes five paperback copies and your name in the list of Super Patrons in the front of the book.

Hang out with the author's cat

1 pledge

Visit the author’s flat and spend some time with Wilson, the cat who inspired the murderous white tiger in the novel (tea and cake provided). Soak up his energy, borrow his toys and allow him to knead your knees with his claws. Includes paperback 1st edition, ebook edition and your name in the list of Super Patrons in the front of the book.